The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-09-07
BESET BY BURGLARS.

DuNu1 ~ L DO O1Il1USs
In the fall of 1856 was employed as
clerk in a general store at a cross roads
in Southern Indiana. The store, a
church, and blacksmith shop, with two
residences, made up the buildings, and
the families of the merchant and the
blacksmith were the only residents. The
country about was thickly settled up,
however, and trade was always good.
Before the merchant engaged me he an
nouuced that l would have to sleep in
the store O. nights, and that unless had
pluck enough to defend the place
against the marauders he did not want
me at any price. He showed me shot
gun, a revolver, and spring gun, which
were used, or on hand to be used, to de-
fend the place, and the windows were
protected with stout blinds and the
door by double locks. The close of the
war had drifted bad population into
Indiana. The highways were full of
tramps, and there were hundreds of men
who had determined to make living by
some other means than labor. Several
attempts had been made to rob the store,
and it had come to pass that no clerk
wanted to sleep there alone.
The merchant seemed satisfied with
the answer I gave h m, and on certain
Monday morning went to work. That
same night a store about four miles away
was broken into and robbed and the
clerk seriously wounded. Two nights
later three horses were stolen in our
neighborhood. At the end of the week
farmer who was OH his way home from
our store was robbed on the highway.
If I had not been light sleeper from
habit, these occurrences would have
tended TO prevent too lengthy dreams as
I lay in my little bedroom at the front of
the second story. The revolver was
always placed under my pillow and the
shotgun stood within reach. The spring
gun was sci about midway of the lower
floor. 1t adouble- bareled shotgun,
each barrel containing big charge of
buckshot. ard the man who kicked the
string and discharged the weapon would
never know what hurt him.
1t did not seem possible that any one
could break into the store without arous-
ing me. There was no door to my room,
and after the people in my neighborhood
had gone to bed I could hear the slight
est noise in the store. had looked the
place over fora weak sIot, and had failed
to find it, but my own confidence came
near proving my destruction. 1 should
have told you. in describing the store
that Just over the srot where we set the
spring gun was an opening through
which we hoisted and lowered such goods
as were stored for a time on the second
floor. When not in use this opening was
covered by trap door. Toward even
ing, on the tenth day of my clerkship, l
hoisted up a lot of pals and tubs, and
had Just finished when trade became so
brisk that was called to wait upon GUS
toners. Later on saw that l had left
the trap door open, and said to myself
that would let it 90 until went to bed
The store had the only burglar proof safe
for miles around, and it was customary
for the farmer who had hundred dollars
or so to leave it with IS. lie received an
envelope in which to enc 'ose it, and he
could take out and put in rs Ire liked.
On this evening four or five farmers came
in 10 deposit, and, as l afterward figured
up, we had about 81. 800 in the safe.
There were two strange faces in the
crowd that evening. One belonged to
roughly dressed, evil-cycd man, who all
nounccd himself as drovcr, and the
other as a professional tr mp. gave the
latter a piece of tobacco and some crack
ers and cheese and he soon went away,
and we were also so busy up to o'clock
that did not give the drover much at
tention. When we came to shut up the
store he had gone from my mind alto
gethcr. We counted up the cash, made
some charges in the day book, and it
was about 10 o'clock when the merchant
left | was tired out and | took a can
die and made the circuit of the store, set
the spring gun, and went to bed. l
had to pass within six feet of the trap
door us went to my room, but did not
see it. 1t was rather chilly night in Oc-
tober. and We had no !Cs yet, and as
got under the blankets the warmth was
50 grateful that s Don fell @s!rrp. 1t WAS
the first night had gone to bed without
thinking of robbers and wondering how
I should act in case they came in. l did
not know when l fell asleep. Suddenly l
found myself half upright in bed, and
there was an echo in the store as If the
fall of <omething had aroused me. 1t
was one oclo and had beel asleep al
most three hours. Leaning on my elbow.
I strained my ears TO can b the slightest
sound and after a minute heard move
ment down sta rs. While could not
saw what it WAS, a sor: Of instinct told
me that it was made by some human be-
in1